EFFECTS OF CHRONIC CHLORIMIPRAMINE AND IMIPRAMINE ADMINISTRATION ON FOOD HOARDING BEHAVIOR IN MALE-RATS

The effect of chronic administration of chlorimipramine hydrochloride (CLR) and imipramine hydrochloride (IMI) on food hoarding behavior was studied in 21-hr food-restricted, male rats. Both CLR and IMI produced marked depressions in hoarding compared to controls even though hoarding decreased in all groups throughout the experiment. CLR and IMI also significantly depressed BWt gain, but produced different effects on 10-min FI during the hoarding test and total 3-hr FI measures. CLR produced a chronic depression in both 10-min and 3-hr FI measures, whereas IMI rats showed marked depressions in 10-min FI only. FI measures and hoarding scores were poorly correlated. Inasmuch as all rats were maintained on a daily food restriction schedule differences in starvation levels and their effects on drug action and metabolism might be in part responsible for these behavioral effects.